Kevin Boateng's Retirement Will Hurt Ghana's AFCON 2012 Chances

Ghana FA Executive Committee member George Afriyie says Kevin-Prince Boateng�s retirement is a big blow to the country�s quest of winning next year�s Nations Cup finals. Boateng announced on Friday he was quitting international football claiming the physical demands of playing for both club and country was a health risk for him. The former Portsmouth man recently had a fall-out with Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic but GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi stepped in to resolve the matter. Ghana fans were hoping the in-form AC Milan ace will play a key role at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. �If you look at the timing, it�s very very bad,� Executive Committee member Afriyie told GHANAsoccernet.com �At this time when every Ghanaian is hoping that we can assemble the best of materials to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. �We believe that these days the guy is playing well and we were hoping that the next match he was going to get a call from the coach and for that matter we can assemble our best players.� Boateng played nine times for Ghana and scored one goal. The 24-year-old has been accused of abandoning Ghana after a 2010 Fifa World Cup appearance in South Africa revived his club career.